C 128 3 
XVI. A Letter from John Zephaniah Hol- 
wel, Efq\ F. R. S. to Jj o h 11 C^ampbclj 
Efq\ F. R. S. giving an Account of a 
new Species of Oah 
S I R, 
Exeter, Feb. 24, 1772. 
Pvead April 1, 
1772. 
I 
N my curious rambles through the 
environs of this city, I have been 
tempted to vifit the nurfery of Mr. William Lucombe, 
of St. Thomas, on the report of a very extraordinary 
and new fpecies of oak, firft difcovered and propa- 
gated by that ingenious gardener ; and as this plant 
appears to me capable of proving an ineftimable ac- 
quilition to this kingdom, I cannot relift the defire 
I feel of communicating to you fome particulars re- 
lative to its hiftory and character, taken partly from 
Mr. Lucombe’s account of it, and my own obferva- 
tions. This, I know, muft be moft acceptable to 
you, who are fo laborioully and laudably employed 
in elucidating the various improvements and ad- 
vantages your country is capable of. 
About feven years paft, Mr. Lucombe fowed a 
parcel of acorns, faved from a tree of his own 
growth, of the iron or wainfcot fpecies ; when they 
came up, he obferved one among!! them that kept 
his 
